Enclosed electric device



' Feb. 7, 1939. J. G. JACKSON ENCLOSED ELECTRIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 50, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J07??? Jkc%sorz ATTORNEY.

J. G. JACKSON 2,146,627

ENCLOSED ELECTRIC v DEVICE v INVENTOR. 6. J2vson v ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb-7,1939

ENCLOSED Emcrmc DEVICE John G. Square tion of Michigan Jackson, Detroit, Mich, assignor -to D Company Detroit, Mich a corpora- Application November 30, 1934, Serial No. 755,265

7 Claims- (Cl. 200-168) This invention relates to enclosed electrical equipment and more particularly to enclosed electric switches.

One object of this invention is to provide an electrical unit enclosed in a cabinet in which the unit is readily removable to the exterior of the cabinet to facilitate access to the cabinet interior.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved mounting means for an electricalunit spacing itfrom the rear of an enclosing-cabinet and providing for the supported movement thereof to the exterior of the cabinet.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical unit in an enclosing box in which the electrical unit is mounted upon a hinged plate so that it 'can readily be swung aside to leave a clear open space in the box.

Another object of this invention is to provide an enclosed electrical instrumentality in which the interior is mounted upon a hinged supporting plate and in which means are provided for limiting the interior position of the plate together with. means for releasably securing the plate in its limiting position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an-improved construction for enclosed electric switches in which the switching unit is pivoted to the enclosure so as to be bodily swingable to the exterior thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for enclosed electric switches in which the switch is mounted on a hinged supporting plate, spaced from the rear cabinet wall and in which position limiting means and releasable securing means are provided.

A further object of this invention is'to provide an improved contact jaw.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch contact jaw having increased rigidity and provided with improved supporting means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved contact jaw in which the supporting means is secured tothe free end of one of the legs of the jaw and in which the free end of the other leg is provided with an extension to form an arcing tip.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for a contact jaw resulting in increased strength and rigidity.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in'the art from the following specification and the appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

, plate from the rear wall of the cabinet.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a switching device according to present invention with the cover open.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of line 11-11 of Figure l with the top and bottom ofthe box broken away and with the closed position of the cover shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line III-III of Figure 1. the position of the interior when swung exterior of the cabinet being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a detailed enlarged sectional view taken on the line IV--IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one form of contact jaw according to present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of contact jaw.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts, there is shown a 'box or cabinet i having a cover 2 hingedly mounted on one side thereof. On the same side of the cabinet and adjacent to the front edge thereof there is hingedly mounted a supporting plate or strap 3 in a position to be spaced from the rear wall of cabinet I. The corner of the strap most remote from the hinge is beveled to provide clearance for the swinging movement of the strap. The free edge of the supporting strap extends adjacent to the opposite side of cabinet I and has a stud 4 threaded therein. An operating handle 5 has an operating bar extension 6 which extends through openings in opposite sides of the supporting strap or plate and pivotally mounted therein. The side ofthe cabinetadjacent to the free end of the strap is provided with a slot which receives the operating handle 5 and stud 4 in the enclosed position of the interior. The depth of this slot thus limits the interior postion of the switching elements and serves to properly space the supporting The stud 4 when tightened down serves -to releasably secure the supporting plate in its position.

It is obvious that many modifications of this stopping and securing arrangement may be used as, for example, the free end of the supporting plate may extend toward the rear wall of the cabinet and engage therewith to limit the position of the plate and be secured thereto by means mounted on the rear wall of the cabinet.

An insulating base I is mounted on brackets 8, 8 at the top and bottom of the supporting plate and extending forwardly thereof. At either side of the supporting base and substantially centrally thereof are mounted hinge jaws 9 and i I of substantially the same form as the contact members to be hereinafter described, and having movable contact blades l2 and I3 pivoted within the hinge jaw members. Arcuate members l4 and lb of insulating material are rigidly secured as by rivets I 6 to the movable contact blades. The free ends of these arcuate members are slotted as at I! for reception of the operating bar 6 formed as an extension of handle 5.

It is thus seen that movement of handle 5 will move operating bar 6 which in turn through the arcuate members IE will cause pivotal movement of the contact blades l2 and I3.

Adjacent to the top of the insulating base and at either side thereof are mounted contact jaws I8 and iii in a position to receive the ends of contact blades i2 and it. Each contact 'Jaw comprises parallel faces 2! and 22 having diverging portions at their lower ends joined by a flat portion 23. A supporting and connecting plate 24 is formed as a flange at the free end of contact face 22, the free end of contact face 2i having a flared extension 25 forming an arcing and guiding tip. The supporting plate 26 has a threaded opening centrally thereof and raised portions 26 on its upper surface, spaced from said opening and serving as conductor retaining means. The plate 24 is mounted on front of base 7 and is secured thereto by stud 21 extending through and beyond the plate and having a nut 28 thereon for the purpose of clamping an electrical conductor against the front surfaces of plate 23. The diverging portion of contact face 22 has a finger 29 cut therefrom and bent into the space between the faces to limit the movement of the movable contact blade. The hinge jaws may be of the same form but with alined apertures for the pivot substituted for finger 29.

The contact arrangement described above is particularly adapted for use where the height above the insulating base is limited and is therefore particularly adapted for, although not limited to, use with the switching device of the type herein described where the switching unit is mounted forwardly of the rear wall of the enclosing cabinet.

The hinge jaws 9 and ii are each connected in well known manner to one terminal of fuse sockets 3| and 32, the other terminals of which are provided with accessible conductor receiving means 33 and 34.

A neutral connector is provided on the front of base 1. On opposite sides of the slot in the side of the cabinet there are mounted brackets 36 and 31 having openings therein for the reception of a pad lockor seal to lock the handle member 5 in either its on or "off position. A latch 38 is also secured to the side of the enclosing cabinet and extends through a slot in the cover member to latch it in position.

The operation of the device disclosed above should be readily apparent. The supporting plate 3 is spaced from the rear wall of the cabinet and provides a wiring space therebetween. When it is desired to adjust a conduit to the box and to draw in the wires the stud 4 may be loosened and the entire interior of the box swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, thus leaving the entire interior of the box open and greatly facilitating the desired operations. When the wires have been brought into the box the mounting plate and the switch mounted thereon can then be swung back into the cabinet and may be secured in that position by tightening the stud 4.

It should also be noted that cover 2 in its closed position will hold the switching unit within the box enclosure in case the stud 4 should become loosened.

The construction of the hinges for the cover and the supporting plate is such that in its removed position the switching unit fits snugly within the dome of the cover. It might be desirable in some instances to provide the mount-- ing plate or strap with a removable hinge, opening in one position in such a manner that when in this position the mounted parts can be removed from the box by lifting out of the hinges.

While the invention so far has been specifically described as applied to enclosed electric switches, it is not limited thereto but contemplates the supporting of other electrical units in the same manner to provide for swinging movement thereof to uncover a wiring space adjacent to the rear wall of an enclosing cabinet. As examples of such units that may be so mounted are fuse blocks, connector blocks, socket bases cooperating with fuse puller plugs, circuit interrupting instrumentalities in general, and all other electrical devices that are mounted in enclosing structures and adapted for connection to circuit conductors.

The switch jaw described and particularly The flared extension 25 provides an arcing tip to prevent burning away of the support for the contact jaw. The diverging portions on this jaw assist in maintaining a true parallelism of the faces 2| and 22.

ure 5 with the exception of the portion 39 joining the ends of the contact faces and the omission of the diverging portions and the finger 29.

with a curvatation within the terms of the following claims:

1. An electric switch comprising an enclosing box, a cover for said box, a supporting strap pivotally mounted on the box and normally disposed therein, an insulating base mounted on said strap in spaced relation thereto, stationary and movable contacts on said base, an operating crank pivotally mounted on said strap and extending between said base and said strap, means connecting the crank and the movable contact, said crank having an extension forming an outside operating handle, said strap and the parts supported thereon being bodily swingable to uncover the box interior, a slot in a wall of said box, a stud on said strap, said slot being adapted to receive said extension and stud to limit the interior position of the strap and hold it in that position.

2. In an electric switch, an enclosing box having an openable cover, a supporting strap mounted within said box in spaced relation to the back wall thereof, an insulating base mounted on said elements mounted on ing element for said switching elements including a cranked portion disposed between the base and supporting strap hingedly strap with at least a portion thereof spaced from the strap, switching elements mounted on said base, and an operating element for said switching elements having a cranked portion disposed between said strap and said portion of the base.

3. In an electric switch, an enclosing box having an openable cover, a supporting plate spaced from the back wall of the box to provide a space for circuit wires, an insulating base supported forwardly of the plate and in spaced relation thereto, switching elements comprising a contact jaw and a hinged blade mounted on said base with the blade rotating in a forward direction in moving out of engagement with said jaw, an operating element having a crank portion disposed between said base and plate, terconnecting said blade andtcranked portion to provide for movement of the blade into and out of engagement withthe jaw. a

4. In an electric switch, an enclosing box having an openable cover, a supporting plate hingedly mounted in the boxand spaced from the back wall thereot, means maintaining the plate within the box, said plate being swingable to the exterior oi the box when said maintaining means is released, an insulating base mounted forwardly of said plate in spaced relation thereto, switching said base, and an operatthe supporting plate.

5. In an electric switch, an enclosing box having an openable cover, a substantially U-shaped mounted on the box for swinging movement to the exterior of the box, means limiting the interior position of the and means inbase, and an operating ing anopenable cover,

the interior position of strap spaced from the rear wall oi the box to provide a wiring space, an insulating base mounted on said strap in spaced relation to thebottom of the U, switching elements mounted on the element for said switching elementsincluding a. crank portion disposed between the insulating base and the bottom or the U and operatively connected to said switching elements.

6., In an electric switch, anen'closing box having an openable cover, an insulating base mounted in said box spaced from the rear wall thereof, switching elements on said base including a contact jaw opening forwardly and a hinged blade cooperating with said jaw, operating means for said blade including a crank portion disposed in back of said base. and a shielding plate between said crank portion and the rear wall of the box to protect circuit said wall. 7 l

7. In an electric switch, anenclosing box hava substantially U-shaped hingedly mounted on the box wires placed adjacent to supporting strap and spaced from the rear wall of the box to provide a wiring space, an insulating base mounted on said strap in spaced relation thereto, switching elements supported on said base, an operating element pivotally supported in the opposite legs of said strap and having an intermediate crank portion disposed between said base and strap and operatively connected to actuate said switching elements, said operating element including an exterior handle portion, and a slot in a side wall of the box receiving said handle portion in the switch. 7

JOHN G. JACKSON. 

